First a look at the current standings:
1) Illinois: 2-1 conf.; 5-1 overall
2) Purdue: 2-1 conf.; 4-2 overall
3) Nebraska: 2-1 conf.; 3-3 overall
4) Minnesota: 1-1 conf.; 4-1 overall
5) Wisconsin: 1-2 conf.; 3-3 overall
6) Northwestern: 1-2 conf.; 1-5 overall
7) Iowa: 1-2 conf.; 3-3 overall
We control our destiny in the sense if we win out, nobody can top us, as we would hold every tiebreaker, including over Minnesota since the division standings are determined by conference W-L.
Purdue is currently averaging 300 yards passing per game and 120 yards rushing. Purdue's defense is giving up on average 230 yards passing and 97 yards rushing. Purdue has on paper no bad losses, but Syracuse might be considered a bad loss at seasons end (but in fairness, Syracuse is currently ranked 18 and PSU 10). Purdue is averaging 33 points per game. Purdue is allowing 22 points per game. (In fairness, I included all games played in my below stats since everyone has a cupcake game).
Game 1) Vs. Nebraska. 7:30 PM kick. Currently averaging 255 yards passing and 160 yards rushing. On Defense, they are giving up 263 yards per game passing and 186 yards per game rushing. Nebraska has 2 bad losses in Northwestern and Georgia Southern. They have rebounded since firing Frost, but you cannot really tell much with their competition. They average 28 points per game and give up 29 per game. Their defense has improved the past two games. This is a game Purdue should win on paper. I would probably be more confident if Frost was coaching since he is a known commodity. Regardless, we should win this game, especially a night game.
Game 2) At Wisconsin. 3:30 PM kick. Currently averaging 235 yards passing and 173 yards rushing per game. On defense, they are giving up 203 yards passing and 116 yards rushing. They are averaging 32 points per game and giving up 20 points per game. Wisconsin has been our kryptonite. Although we did slay a bit of that dragon over Minnesota already. On paper, they don't have a bad loss. I don't think we really know what Wisconsin is yet, and even moreso with their new coach. Their 3 wins are not great wins.
Game 3) Vs. Iowa. Currently averaging 156 yards passing and 82 yards rushing. On defense they are giving up 154 yards passing and 111 yards rushing. They are averaging 15 points per game and giving up on average 10 points per game. We also don't really know what Iowa is, although I suspect they are bad. Their 3 losses aren't bad losses, but their 3 wins aren't good wins. I think we should win this game and certainly if we think we are going to play in Indy we have to.
Game 4) At Illinois. Currently averaging 211 yards passing and 195 yards rushing. On defense they are giving up 160 yards passing and 67 yards rushing. They are averaging 26 points per game and giving up on average 8 points per game. They have a loss to IU, but you can't really say they have a good win yet, probably Wisconsin at Camp Randall. I suspect this might be a battle for the division when these two teams meet. Purdue has won 5 straight in C-U and is 7-3 in the past 10, ironically with 3 of those losses in WL (The forgetable 2019 season, plus twice under DH2.
Game 5) Vs. Northwestern. Northwestern is terrible. This is 1980's era Northwestern this year. Northwestern is averaging 282 yards passing and 112 yards rushing. However, their defense is allowing 230 yards passing and 176 yards rushing per game. They average 18 points on offense and give up on average 28 points per game. They have a couple of bad losses. Not much to say here, if we are coming into this game with either a lead, or in contention for the division, it has to be a win.
Game 6) At IU. IU is averaging 266 yards passing and 90 yards rushing per year. On defense they are giving up 282 yards passing and 146 yards rushing. With those stats it is somewhat amazing they are 3-3. They are averaging 24 points per game and giving up on average 31 points per game. Per usual, IU opened up 3-0 and are now 3-3. These next 2 games will tell the tale of the season for IU as they have Maryland and at Rutgers back to back. I think they will lose those next 2 and if they do, then they get PSU and OSU and the team could give up.
Also a look at who everyone else has left cross-division. This is the feather in our cap so to speak vis a vis the rest of the division, In the conference standings, we are tied with 1 loss with Illinois, Nebraska and Minnesota.
1) Illinois: Vs. MSU and at Michigan
2) Purdue: At IU
3) Nebraska: At Michigan
4) Minnesota: At PSU and Vs. Rutgers
5) Wisconsin: At MSU and Vs. Maryland
6) Northwestern: At Maryland and Vs. OSU
7) Iowa: At OSU
1) Illinois: 2-1 conf.; 5-1 overall
2) Purdue: 2-1 conf.; 4-2 overall
3) Nebraska: 2-1 conf.; 3-3 overall
4) Minnesota: 1-1 conf.; 4-1 overall
5) Wisconsin: 1-2 conf.; 3-3 overall
6) Northwestern: 1-2 conf.; 1-5 overall
7) Iowa: 1-2 conf.; 3-3 overall
We control our destiny in the sense if we win out, nobody can top us, as we would hold every tiebreaker, including over Minnesota since the division standings are determined by conference W-L.
Purdue is currently averaging 300 yards passing per game and 120 yards rushing. Purdue's defense is giving up on average 230 yards passing and 97 yards rushing. Purdue has on paper no bad losses, but Syracuse might be considered a bad loss at seasons end (but in fairness, Syracuse is currently ranked 18 and PSU 10). Purdue is averaging 33 points per game. Purdue is allowing 22 points per game. (In fairness, I included all games played in my below stats since everyone has a cupcake game).
Game 1) Vs. Nebraska. 7:30 PM kick. Currently averaging 255 yards passing and 160 yards rushing. On Defense, they are giving up 263 yards per game passing and 186 yards per game rushing. Nebraska has 2 bad losses in Northwestern and Georgia Southern. They have rebounded since firing Frost, but you cannot really tell much with their competition. They average 28 points per game and give up 29 per game. Their defense has improved the past two games. This is a game Purdue should win on paper. I would probably be more confident if Frost was coaching since he is a known commodity. Regardless, we should win this game, especially a night game.
Game 2) At Wisconsin. 3:30 PM kick. Currently averaging 235 yards passing and 173 yards rushing per game. On defense, they are giving up 203 yards passing and 116 yards rushing. They are averaging 32 points per game and giving up 20 points per game. Wisconsin has been our kryptonite. Although we did slay a bit of that dragon over Minnesota already. On paper, they don't have a bad loss. I don't think we really know what Wisconsin is yet, and even moreso with their new coach. Their 3 wins are not great wins.
Game 3) Vs. Iowa. Currently averaging 156 yards passing and 82 yards rushing. On defense they are giving up 154 yards passing and 111 yards rushing. They are averaging 15 points per game and giving up on average 10 points per game. We also don't really know what Iowa is, although I suspect they are bad. Their 3 losses aren't bad losses, but their 3 wins aren't good wins. I think we should win this game and certainly if we think we are going to play in Indy we have to.
Game 4) At Illinois. Currently averaging 211 yards passing and 195 yards rushing. On defense they are giving up 160 yards passing and 67 yards rushing. They are averaging 26 points per game and giving up on average 8 points per game. They have a loss to IU, but you can't really say they have a good win yet, probably Wisconsin at Camp Randall. I suspect this might be a battle for the division when these two teams meet. Purdue has won 5 straight in C-U and is 7-3 in the past 10, ironically with 3 of those losses in WL (The forgetable 2019 season, plus twice under DH2.
Game 5) Vs. Northwestern. Northwestern is terrible. This is 1980's era Northwestern this year. Northwestern is averaging 282 yards passing and 112 yards rushing. However, their defense is allowing 230 yards passing and 176 yards rushing per game. They average 18 points on offense and give up on average 28 points per game. They have a couple of bad losses. Not much to say here, if we are coming into this game with either a lead, or in contention for the division, it has to be a win.
Game 6) At IU. IU is averaging 266 yards passing and 90 yards rushing per year. On defense they are giving up 282 yards passing and 146 yards rushing. With those stats it is somewhat amazing they are 3-3. They are averaging 24 points per game and giving up on average 31 points per game. Per usual, IU opened up 3-0 and are now 3-3. These next 2 games will tell the tale of the season for IU as they have Maryland and at Rutgers back to back. I think they will lose those next 2 and if they do, then they get PSU and OSU and the team could give up.
Also a look at who everyone else has left cross-division. This is the feather in our cap so to speak vis a vis the rest of the division, In the conference standings, we are tied with 1 loss with Illinois, Nebraska and Minnesota.
1) Illinois: Vs. MSU and at Michigan
2) Purdue: At IU
3) Nebraska: At Michigan
4) Minnesota: At PSU and Vs. Rutgers
5) Wisconsin: At MSU and Vs. Maryland
6) Northwestern: At Maryland and Vs. OSU
7) Iowa: At OSU
